First Time Grandma

My life has been turned upside down since my last writing.

I am the proud grandmother of a beautiful baby girl, Melody Katherine Hinesley, born a little prematurely early Sunday morning. This is my first biological grandchild, although I’ve been Grandma Kathy to four step-grandchildren for many years.

There’s nothing like your oldest daughter giving birth to her first child…and it’s a girl! Hannah did not want to find out ahead of time what she was having. So, when she delivered Sunday, that’s when we learned that we had a girl.

I was actually hoping for a girl, because being one of four girls who had two girls, I don’t know much about boys. But I figured I’d learn if I needed to. Well, I don’t need to yet.

Hannah is doing great, but baby Melody Kate is having to stay in the hospital a little while, because she was early, and her lungs are not fully developed. So it’s bittersweet. I love my granddaughter, and am thrilled beyond words that she is here.

But not being able to pick her up and hold her is very disconcerting. I understand she needs to rest, but I want to hold her! And, Hannah is not looking forward to going home without a baby. It’s very hard.

So we are so very excited to have a new baby, and so very devastated that we can’t bring her home right away. I’m getting used to the idea, and know it’s the best for her, but it still is not easy, especially for her mom.

It has been an interesting and long two and half days, I must say. Melody Kate did not get a name until Tuesday morning, as mom and dad had not decided on a girl’s name in advance. There were several they were batting around, but none had stuck. Then when they saw their precious little girl, they still had a hard time deciding. But, they finally have, and I’m looking forward to getting to know this little one.

She is feisty, and screws her whole face up when she gets upset. It’s so cute. But, she doesn’t get upset much, just sleeps mostly. I keep reminding myself God designed her to stay in mom’s womb a little longer. It just didn’t work out that way.

Speaking of God, as soon as Hannah called me Saturday night/Sunday morning and said she was headed to the hospital, I started praying, hard. I knew she was early and Hannah had a condition that could have been bad for her and the baby.

So, I was praying for good health for both, and the Lord blessed us. I have kept praying for healing, and realized I best say thank you, Lord, for bringing us this far. So, I have. And I will again, right here, right now.

Thank you, Lord, for blessing my family with this precious new baby. Please put your healing hands on her, so that we can bring her home and spoil her. Thank you, Lord!

That has basically been my mantra for days. It seems like more days than it has been. So we’re excited and looking forward to watching this new life grow and become an integral part of our lives. We’re so excited, but still a little scared.

I’m certain Hannah and Caleb will make excellent parents, and they have a village to assist them with whatever they need. Hannah’s best friend is there for her, and has two children of her own, and of course, our whole family is loving and supporting the new parents as well as their bundle of joy.

So, for now, if you find me out of the office, suffice it to say, something more important has my attention. I anxiously await the day she can say Grandma.